Global Annual Results Report 2020: Goal Area 1
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on vulnerable children. While young people are not among those most at-risk of contracting the virus, the social and economic ramifications of the pandemic have been particularly acute for the most vulnerable and marginalized. Shocks to the global economy, to networks and services, to social systems and…, COVID-19 interrupted progress against every aspect of child survival, growth and development in 2020. Severe service disruptions reduced access to maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition and HIV services and immunization. In addition, the schools of over 168 million children were closed, many for an entire year. Restricted movement increased…, Health, Icon representing WASH - a tap with a drop of water 4,725 health-care facilities in 52 high-burden countries supported with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services Icon representing infection control - virus symbol in a box Nigeria was certified as free of wild polio virus, in turn affording Africa the same status Icon representing a…, Maternal and newborn health, UNICEF continued to focus on high-impact survival programmes, that includes special emphasis on improving the quality of care at the time of birth, the acceleration of global efforts to transform care for small and sick newborns and linking facility-based care with follow-up care in the community as the next step for newborn survival. The COVID…, Immunization, Immunization remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. UNICEF advocates for the prioritization of children in the ‘zero-dose’ communities such as those in remote rural areas, urban slums and conflict-affected settings, for the delivery of immunization and other basic health services. Disruptions to health services led…, Child health, To address the leading causes of under-five deaths, UNICEF interventions aim to accelerate progress and change the current trajectory, access to and utilization of high-impact interventions to reduce child deaths from pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria. UNICEF continued to implement its thrive agenda, including through the strengthening of multi-…, Adolescent health, Despite the significant challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 has also been a year of opportunity to mobilize political will and resources for promoting the health and well-being of adolescents globally. Icon representing gender - male and female symbols combined By the end of 2020 75 countries had an inclusive, multisectoral and gender-…, Nutrition, Icon representing stunting - two people with a height difference 244 million children under 5 were reached with services to prevent stunting and other forms of malnutrition in early childhood Icon representing adolescent health - silhouette with heart and tree 35 million adolescents were reached with services to prevent anaemia and other forms of…, Prevention of stunting and other forms of malnutrition, Prevention of malnutrition is the primary objective of all UNICEF nutrition programmes. To prevent malnutrition in children and their mothers, UNICEF works with governments to improve access to nutritious, safe and affordable diets; support quality nutrition, health, water and sanitation services; and promote optimal feeding, hygiene and care…, Adolescent nutrition, Middle childhood and adolescence are a second window of opportunity to reap the benefits of good nutrition. Yet even before the COVID-19 pandemic, far too many school-age children and adolescents were not consuming the nutritious foods they needed for healthy growth and development. In 2020, school closures – affecting 1.6 billion school-age…, Treatment and care of children with severe wasting, When efforts to prevent malnutrition fall short, children with wasting need early detection, feeding, treatment and care to save their lives and put them back on the path to healthy development. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an even greater urgency to maintain services for children with wasting, who were particularly vulnerable. This urgency…, HIV and AIDS, Icon representing HIV and AIDS - HIV/AIDS ribbon 34 per cent drop in the number of new infections among adolescents aged 10–19 years in 2019 compared to 2010 Icon representing HIV prevention - HIV/AIDS ribbon in a shield 52 per cent drop in annual new HIV transmissions from mothers to their children between 2010 and 2019 and 2 million HIV…, Commemorating World AIDS Day on 1 December 2020, A young girl holding her hand out showing a medical tablet with her mother and young baby behind her UNICEF/UNI211839/Schermbrucker Kansiime Ruth (25 years) from Mbarara, Western Uganda, ensures that Joanita (4yrs) takes her pediatric HIV medicines at the same time every day. UNICEF 8 ways governments can help children with HIV now. 1️⃣ Get ARV…, Early Childhood Development, Icon representing early childhood development - child playing with building blocks Only 71 per cent of children globally 36–59 months of age are developmentally on track Icon representing reporting - pencil writing on paper 87 countries have established a national ECD policy or action plan Icon representing government building - building with flag…, Improving services and community demand, UNICEF has been strengthening multisectoral packages of interventions. In 2020, UNICEF continued to focus on stimulation and responsive care in the early years. Existing programme platforms, such as community health centres, home-visiting programmes, parenting networks and preschools are being increasingly used as entry-points to integrate…, Building stronger institutions, UNICEF has continued to strengthen enabling policy environments to promote multisectoral ECD interventions at scale – critical to institutionalizing ECD practices. This year, 87 countries, four more than in 2019, confirmed that they have a national ECD policy or action plan. UNICEF is also working with 46 countries to advance family-friendly…, Renewed focus on ECD in emergencies – Action in humanitarian settings, In the face the COVID-19 crisis, more UNICEF country offices prepared to support ECD and/or early learning programmes in humanitarian settings, growing from 46 in 2019 to 74 in 2020. UNICEF reached nearly 2.8 million children under 5 who were living in humanitarian and fragile contexts, including the COVID-19 pandemic. UNICEF supported ECD…, Looking forward, A young woman standing in a classroom in front of a blackboard A boy standing in front of solar panels and waving A girl standing in front of a white wall with colourful butterflies and flowers painted on it UNICEF will continue to save lives by bolstering the delivery of integrated front-line services through communities, schools and health-care…, Global Action Plan on Child Wasting. Strengthening and integration of comprehensive HIV responses will be prioritized toward sustainable health systems for Universal Health Coverage and work to reduce HIV-related stigma will move forward by addressing the social, cultural and legal contexts that perpetuate it. Support for parents will be elevated…, With thanks, This report highlights the achievements made possible by the generous contributions of softly earmarked thematic funding received from various partners. UNICEF would like to express it's sincere appreciation for these contributions. June 2021, Global Annual Results Report 2020 GOAL AREA 1 Every child survives and thrives Cover image: UNICEF/UN0336408/Babajanyan One-year-old Sugarmaa Batjargal is held by her mother near their ger (nomadic tent) in Alag-Erdene district, Khvsgl province, Mongolia. In Khvsgl, Mongolias northernmost province, newborn mortality rates have decreased…
